Speaking of the importance of building and maintaining strong testimonies, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said that in some cases a testimony that has weakened might have been constructed unwisely, having been built "on a social foundation of programs and personalities instead of the sure rock of personal revelation."

Other testimonies, Elder Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said at the October 1992 general conference, might have been allowed to "flicker gradually through the years of disuse and spiritual complacency."Elder Wirthlin continued, "Some people are weak in their faith and testimonies but are not even aware of how precarious their situation is. Many of them likely would be offended at the suggestion. They raise their right hand to sustain Church leaders and then murmur and complain when a decision does not square with their way of thinking. They claim to be obedient to God's commandments but do not feel at all uncomfortable about purchasing food at the store on Sunday and then asking the Lord to bless it. Some say they would give their lives for the Lord, yet they refuse to serve in the nursery.

"The Savior spoke very explicitly about people who `draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me.' " (Isa. 29:13.)

Elder Wirthlin offered three suggestions that will fan the flame of personal testimony:

- Build testimony upon a solid foundation of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. "Even though we enjoy the fellowship of the Saints and have strong feelings about the inspired programs of the Church, we must remember that we have only one sure anchor for our souls. . . . "

- Build testimony through repentance. "Few things extinguish the fervor of the Holy Spirit in the heart of any individual more quickly than does sin. . . . The simple fact is this: anything that does not draw us closer to God takes us away from Him. We have no middle ground, no foggy gray area where we can sin a little without suffering spiritual decline."

- Follow the Savior's example. "In any pursuit and under any condition, we can ask ourselves what Jesus would do and then determine our own course accordingly. . . . If we live our lives to conform as nearly as possible to the pattern the Savior has set, our testimonies will be fortified continually and our spiritual bonfires will never be reduced to embers."